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I have a project coming up, where I need to route small circles into acrylic plastic, and maybe wood too. I have a couple of Dremel tools, but I’d really like to use my Foredom flex shaft tool if possible. The Foredom allows for better control, greater precision, and overall higher performance.

A small router base would be perfect for this.

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Ah – I know just the thing – my Veritas rotary tool router base that I picked up around the time of Ben’s preview post. Its circle cutter attachment allows for cutting circles as little as 1/2″ in diameter – perfect for my application.

I recently learned about StewMac’s specially customized Foredom handpiece that features a Dremel-compatible 3/4-12 thread, and ordered one on the spot.

This will allow me to use the Foredom handpiece in my Veritas rotary tool plunge router base, allowing me to take full advantage of the Veritas’ setup.

It arrived recently, and while I hadn’t put it to use yet, it looks like it’s custom-made by Foredom, as opposed to being a StewMac modification. The threaded section takes the place of the finger grip, so I’ll probably only use this for accessory use.

I wonder which other Dremel attachments it can be used for.

The price is a little more than what a plain H.28 general purpose handpiece costs ($66 list price), and also comes with 2 collets – 3/32″ and 1/8″.

In case none of this makes sense to you, here’s a look at a typical Foredom flex shaft setup and a better explanation:

You have the motor with a hanger for suspending it above a workbench, a flex shaft, and a foot pedal for controlling speed. The flex shaft is inserted into a handpiece, and that’s where you use a collet or 3-jaw chuck – depending on the handpiece – to attach your cutting, grinding, or polishing attachment.

Because speed is controlled by a foot switch, or a dial knob if you opt for one, and the motor is physically away from your work and hand, you get better control. The motor is beefier too, and can deliver greater performance than any Dremel I’ve worked with.

Normally Foredom handpieces are held in your hand, but this StewMac custom handpiece is designed to fit into attachments specially made for Dremel’s threaded nose, such as this Veritas rotary tool router base:

Foredom flex-shaft handpieces can be swapped out easily, and as the situation calls for it.

It’ll be interesting to see if there’s a difference at all. I think there will be. As well-balanced as Dremel tools are, they’re a source of vibration that can potentially transmit to the work. Plus they’re heavy. Using a flex-shaft tool has its own limitations, due to the power-transmitting cable connecting the motor and handpiece, but it’s in my opinion a far better experience. You do lose mobility, though, even if you switch from hanging your motor to supporting it on a benchtop base.

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